Bricole di Venezia [public art project in Fortuna Park, Colchester]

Richard Layzell was commissioned by Colchester Council to design the sculpture in Fortuna Park, which subsequently won the Arts & Business/Cambridge University Press Award for Community Engagement 2010. The sculpture consists of a series of prominent poles inspired by Colchester’s historic links to Venice, which were hand painted by community members in the colours of the local football team and army uniforms.
Layzell was selected for this commission partly from his previous experience of working with communities and in industry. The consultation led to a series of priorities and a number of initial designs. Priorities included local community direct engagement in the process and a link to the nearby military base, known locally as the Garrison. Layzell developed strong relationships with local sports facilities, local schools and with Garrison FM radio station. Fortuna Park fronts Layer Road, the home of Colchester United Football Club. They were due to move to a new stadium during the timespan of this commissioning process. Layer Road is also famous for its border of historic oak trees and the nearby site of the largest Roman Amphitheatre in Britain. Layzell's proposal that was subsequently selected for realisation drew on all these references. Bricole di Venezia was based on the gondola marker poles of Venice, which are often in blue and white, the colours of Colchester United. The work also references Colchester's Roman origins, the oaks that predate Shrub End as a housing estate and the Garrison (through coloration and design of some of the columns). The third column colour scheme is taken from the colours of Venezia Football Club. Layzell initially intended to create a formal link between the two clubs, but Venezia was in such dire financial difficulties that Layzell was warned against this at this time. The oak and agricultural reference was signified through the design of the capitals of the columns. Layzell worked closely with Countryside Properties, Garrison FM, Montgomery Infant School, Alderman Blaxill Secondary School and a local woodturner, Daniel Bain over a 12 month period.